Discussions List

  Use the Discussion list to hold forum-style conversations, including question and answer, on topics relevant to your team, project, or community.

Students benefit from immediate, corrective feedback, especially when delivered by teachers trained in PBIS or a similar format called respectful redirection. Understood, an organization committed to supporting students and adults with learning differences, provides resources on how to implement this approach.

The National Association of School Psychologists produced a research summary on trauma-sensitive schools. The document describes several situations that produce trauma, including family violence, poverty, homelessness, bullying, and natural disasters. The authors summarize research output in four areas: assessment, intervention, school-based mental health supports, and school policies.

The National Association of School Psychologists has published research summaries on several topics, including student discipline, school safety, and mental health programming.A recent analysis of mental health research shows the strong correlation between social-emotional competence and student achievement. An important takeaway from the document is how interdependent three factors are to student achievement: students' mental health, students' self-efficacy, and school-based interventions that boost both.

Trauma and adverse childhood experiences, if unaddressed, could negatively affect student attendance, curricular achievement, and postsecondary outcomes. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network released a framework to address the effect of trauma on students, families, educators and the broader community. The framework describes a three-tier support system that school personnel could implement for students experiencing trauma. The document also identifies ten focus areas, including family engagement, community partnerships, educator professional development, and social-emotional learning approaches delivered alongside instruction.

The United States Department of Education released a parent and educator resource that identifies programs and strategies that could support positive school climate. The document includes FAQs and a list of resources.

Dear Colleagues, During the 2019 Regular Session, the Georgia General Assembly created several education-related study committees. The following list includes links to committee reports. In the past, the recommendations contained in these reports often have served as a roadmap for developing legislation. Senate Study Committee on Community Schools Senate Resolution 353 (Link)Final Report (Link) Senate Study Committee on the Financial Efficiency Star RatingSenate Resolution 452 (Link)Senate Study Committee on Higher Education OutcomesSenate Resolution 464 (Link)Final Report (Link)Senate Study Committee on the Educational Development of African American Children in the State of GeorgiaSenate Resolution 468 (Link)Final Report (Link)

Please upload and share the evidence you have found for any/all SH activities.

October 2019 Student Wellness Newsletter.pdfEnjoy the October 2019 Student Wellness Newsletter from the Office of School Safety & Climate.

What are a few examples of pay for success initiatives?  I see this terminology in one of the SSAE webinars related to safe and healthy students but am unclear what it is referencing.

Did you know nearly 79,000 students in Georgia considered or attempted suicide in 2018? When it comes to child and youth mental, parents and caregivers can often be left overwhelmed and confused about where to find help. Clink the link below to view the four pathways to access these services.Voices for Georgia's Children Video

Helping teachers understand mental health a and the effects on behavior can help keep students in school. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/50-000-preschoolers-are-suspended-each-year-can-mental-health-n962691?fbclid=IwAR3qJ8Vs9eQBibbN-DKDVnxzslHAS5vYVwr5JLq5AmVC7AVVf-12DY0G5GA

Here is a powerful video on Ted Talks by Linda Cliatt-Wayman, a principal in North Philadelphia.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe2nlti47kALinda Cliatt-Wayman attended a low-performing school in the same Philadelphia neighborhood where she was asked to lead another as a principal. She recalled how incredibly dark the school was inside: “I remember saying to myself, ‘How can I educate kids that I cannot see? Where are the lights? No wonder so many fights. I can’t see anything.’ Instantly I thought about segregation and I thought about how it was supposed to have ended in 1958—I felt trapped, that we were stuck there. And then what in the world was I going to do to make sure that this also was a school for students who had nowhere else to go. And I felt how it was degrading that anybody’s child would have to go to a school like this.”http://www.ascd.org/ASCD/pdf/siteASCD/wholechild/spring2017wcsreport.pdf

Information published by the CDC regarding transgender students and their experiences with violence, victimization, suicide risk, substance abuse, and risky sexual behavior. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6803a3.htm?s_cid=mm6803a3_w

Here is an interesting perspective of the correlation of harsh school discipline to involvement in the judicial system. There are so many links to school discipline and drop out rates, low academic performance, and involvement in criminal activities. Although this is not current information, there is still validity to what continues to happen in our schools. http://www.nasbe.org/wp-content/uploads/Advancement-Project-CoP-Pesentation.pdf

https://abuse.publichealth.gsu.edu/targ/https://abuse.publichealth.gsu.edu/files/2018/09/TARG-online-sample.pdfChild Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Prevention Guide & SB 401Georgia’s Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Prevention Technical Assistance Resource Guide (TARG) is intended to outline how communities and schools can utilize existing sexual abuse prevention strategies and programs to improve the health and well-being of their youth population.The TARG is a comprehensive guide that provides best practices on:principles of prevention,identifying resources for the classroom,developing a prevention plan,age appropriate teaching suggestions,analysis of specific programs, andguidelines for implementation and evaluation.Download the full TARG by filling in your contact information below.The TARG is a recommended guide for educators looking to comply with SB 401. SB 401, a 2018 revision to the Quality Basic Education Act, GA Code Section 20-2-143, requires:Annual age-appropriate sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention education for students K-9To provide professional learning that may include participating in or presenting at in-service training on sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention (GA Code 20-2-200)In-service training programs on sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention for personnel that will be providing instruction in annual age-appropriate sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention education K-9 (GA Code Section 20-2-201)

Sexual Abuse Prevention in SchoolsA New Georgia MandateIn recognition of Human Trafficking Awareness Month, Prevent Child Abuse Georgia is partnering with Carol Neal Rossi of the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy to educate Georgians on Senate Bill 401 and GA's Guide for Abuse Prevention Education.January 31, 2019 at 1 p.m.Register NowThe presenter willCover new language in Georgia law;Give information and resources from the Dept. of Education; andProvide an overview of current program in schools.This webinar will also cover GA's Guide for Abuse Prevention Education which identifiesBest practices and resources,Age-appropriate teaching suggestions, andAnalysis of programs.Additional discussion will include challenges, barriers, successes and pilot programs, as well as how child abuse prevention advocates can support local schools’ implementation. Download GA's Guide for Abuse Prevention Education and learn more about SB 401 in advance! This project was supported in part by the Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family and Children Services and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Community Based Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CFDA 93.590). Points of view or opinions stated in this document are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family and Children Services or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Community Based Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CFDA 93.590).

Thank you for subscribing to PCA Georgia's monthly newsletter. November 2018 Edition. Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Prevent Child Abuse Georgia:Connecting Caregivers to Support  1-800-CHILDREN 1-800-244-5373 Learn More  View Resource Map Help Promote 1-800-CHILDREN  SafeCare Founder & Former PCA Georgia Board Chair Retires Dr. John R. Lutzker officially retired from Georgia State University at the end of October. As Director and founder of the Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development, he was responsible for bringing Prevent Child Abuse (PCA) Georgia to the university center in 2011. Many of you may also be familiar with the evidence-based home visiting program he created, SafeCare. His large body of work, primarily focused on the prevention of child maltreatment, has impacted the lives of countless families during his tenure. In 2017 alone, SafeCare served over 6,000 families in the U.S. and internationally. Upon retirement, GSU's President appointed him the honor of Professor Emeritus, in recognition of his significant contributions to the university and vulnerable populations everywhere. While he is known widely for his expertise on parenting, he is known best within our office for his mentorship, comradery, and passion.  Parents Want to KnowParents with more knowledge about parenting and child development are more likely to engage in positive parenting practices, but how do parents get this information?  Parents are not always included in the planning of programs designed for them. Child Trends recently conducted a parent focus group with racially, ethnically, and economically diverse groups of first-time parents of infants and toddlers.  Parents raised the following five key points: They are eager for information on child development, but don't know how to obtain it.They most commonly seek information during developmental transitions.Parents of different backgrounds and identities had more commonalities than differences when it came to their parenting knowledge and information-seeking preferences and behavior.The internet was a primary source of information.Parents wanted clear, concise recommendations for parenting practices with examples of how to use them.Programs should actively seek input from parents whenever possible to inform their practices and services deliveries.  Read the full article with further explanation and suggestions. Supporting Brain Development and Preventing Trauma: Two New Free Trainings  Build My Brain is a cross-disciplinary online course focused on the science and importance of early childhood development. The  course was inspired by a collaboration between GEEARS,  child-serving agencies, and Harvard University's Center on the Developing Child. Identifying how the science of early childhood development can be applied to policies and services for children birth to five can advance the Governor's goal of having every Georgia child reading on grade level by the end of third grade.Find out how a child's brain architecture is constructed and how families, caregivers, and all adults can be great brain builders through the responsive interactions and nurturing relationships they have with children.Access the training here: Georgia Build My Brain .Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), such as child maltreatment, parental substance abuse, mental illness, and socioeconomic hardship, affect children and families across all communities. ACEs can affect a child's health and well-being, resulting in a lifetime of poorer health outcomes. Since ACEs impact so many across the nation, society as a whole must understand how we can all help prevent ACEs.  A recently released CDC training helps us recognize, understand, and prevent ACEs.  Learn about risks and protective factors, outcomes associated with ACEs, and strategies you can use to reduce or eliminate the impact of ACEs. This trainings is free and recommended for any audience.  Start Training Now  Approved for 1.5 hours of BFTS credit.  Interested in ACEs? Sign-up for the Georgia ACEs Connection, a publicly open action-based online group for individuals, sectors, and communities that are utilizing the ACEs science to implement trauma-informed and resilience-building practices and policies.  GA Family Support Network Georgia has joined the National Family Support Network and has already begun training organizations in the national standards. The development of shared standards across the state is an important strategic step towards defining and promoting quality practices for families. What makes these Standards unique is that they are the first to integrate and operationalize both the principles of family support practice and the research-based evidence-informed Strengthening Families Protective Factors framework.  PCA Georgia is excited to be a Standards Trainer and have family support centers represented as local councils. For more information about becoming part of the network contact Deborah Chosewood at deborah.chosewood@dhs.ga.gov. DFCS Director's Open Letter to the Child Welfare Community On October 16, Georgia DFCS issued an Open Letter to the Child Welfare Community to begin the process of open communication and engagement with the entire child welfare system around the Family First Prevention Services Act. Partners in the advocacy, provider, and legal and judicial communities are invited to share this letter broadly within professional and community networks.  Youth Thrive™ Survey LaunchAll youth and young adults deserve to be supported in ways that support their healthy development. One of the best ways to support them is to ask them directly how they are doing. The Youth Thrive™ Survey  is the first instrument that is based on positive constructs.  This web-based survey measures the presence, strength, and growth of Youth Thrive Protective and Promotive Factors as proxy indicators of well-being.  Information collected is intended to help organizations reach youth in new and meaningful ways through real-time data directly from the youth that organizations are serving.  For more insight on how this survey can benefit your organization, please register for the informational webinar that will be held November 14, 2018. Register Now CONNECT WITH USLike us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterVisit our WebsiteForward this to a FriendABOUT US Prevent Child Abuse Georgia is a state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America. We provide statewide direction to prevent child abuse and neglect, promote healthy children, and develop strong families through our prevention network, public awareness, prevention programs, and advocacy.  Learn more about us here!   CONTACT US Julia Neighbors Director Jneighbors@gsu.edu Naeshia McDowell Helpline & Training Coordinator nmcdowell2@gsu.edu   Jyll Walsh Communication & Outreach Coordinator Jwalsh10@gsu.edu GIVING Support PCA Georgia by giving today. Upcoming EventsThe Summit: Georgia's Child Welfare Conference Hosted by the Office of the Child Advocate Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center December 3-5, 2018  Registration Opening Soon 11th Annual GA Association for Positive Behavior (GAPBS) Support Conference Hosted by the Center for Leadership in Disability GA World Congress Center December 5-6, 2018  Register NowThis project was supported in part by the Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family and Children Services and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Community Based Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CFDA 93.590). Points of view or opinions stated in this document are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family and Children Services or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Community Based Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CFDA 93.590).      follow on Twitter | like on Facebook | forward to a friend ​​​  unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences | view email in browser  ​

https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/pubs/evidence_based/appendix_a.asp

Prevent Child Abuse Georgia:Connecting Caregivers to Support  1-800-CHILDREN Learn More  View Online Resource Map Help Promote 1-800-CHILDREN 1-800-244-537326 New Mandated Reporter Trainers   Although Georgia requires all child serving professionals and volunteers to report suspected child maltreatment, there is no law describing how mandated reporters are to receive information on recognizing or reporting abuse. Prevent Child Abuse Georgia has trained professionals throughout the state to deliver Mandated Reporter Training to communities, professionals, or groups who wish to have in-person training. Congratulations to the 26 newly trained professionals (pictured above), who attended PCA Georgia's Mandated Reporter TOT late September. They are now able to provide mandated reporter training in their community that includes:Understanding laws around mandated reporting;Defining four types of abuse and related indicators;Describing the process for handling a disclosure of abuse; andFollowing the basic procedure for reporting suspected child abuse.Request a FREE MANDATED REPORTER TRAINING by filling out PCA Georgia's online form. Georgia's Training in Adoption Competency Program The GSU Professional Excellence Program is recruiting a new cohort for their Training in Adoption Competency (TAC) Program. The TAC Program, developed by the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.), is an evidence-informed training program that provides mental health professionals with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to provide adoption-competent mental health services to their clients. In addition to licensed mental health professionals, others working in the field of adoption or providing services to members of the adoption triad (birth parents, adopted children, adopted parents) would also benefit from this program.     The Fall 2018 Cohort Class begins in November.  Classes will be held the 2nd Saturday of each month in Macon. Please Apply by October 12th Click Here to ApplyState of Hope Communities State of Hope is a Georgia Division of Family and Children Services initiative supporting grass-roots, innovative efforts that focus on one or more of the four opportunities for hope: Education, being/becoming Trauma-Informed, Quality Caregiving and Economic Self-Sufficiency. These priorities will have the greatest impact on keeping children safe, strengthening families and empowering communities. The goal is to create Communities of Hope in each of Georgia's 14 regions.  After a competitive application process, 57 organizations were selected to house local State of Hope collaborative efforts and participate in a larger learning community- the Hope Ecosystem.  More Cross-Organization Collaboration The Georgia ACEs Connection is a publicly open action-based online group for individuals, sectors, and communities that are utilizing the ACEs science to implement trauma-informed and resilience-building practices and policies. PCA Georgia and DFCS' Prevention and Community Support Section are asking everyone in Georgia to actively discuss their role in developing safe and supportive communities by hosting a Civic Dinner. Spark dialogue about building nurturing communities to create a State of Hope, sign up now! Podcast Series Focuses on Georgia's Children   Voices for Georgia's Children recently launched their inaugural podcast series, Challenges for Children. In April 2018, Voices set out to understand why so many of Georgia's children are being left behind. Team members traveled to Whitfield, Dougherty, Effingham, and Lamar counties to speak with community residents about the many struggles that children living outside Atlanta Metro face in accessing quality healthcare.  In the podcast, community members discuss a wide array of barriers including, transportation issues and  lack of mental health services, as well as share their personal stories. LISTEN NOW:  Barriers Georgia Children Face in Healthcare  Family First ActThe Family First Prevention and Services Act (Family First), enacted earlier this year, amends Title IV parts B and E of the Social Security Act to significantly lower foster care placements by allowing Title-IV E funding for primary prevention services. In order to utilize these services your state must opt in. Here are several ways Prevent Child Abuse America has recommended to educate state and local agencies on the benefits of Family First and the positive impact it can have in the lives of children and families.  Educating Decision MakersCreating a Positive Buzz about Family FirstForming Coalitions or Work-groupsMaking RequestsWriting to the Acting Commissioner of the Administration of Children, Youth, and FamiliesTop Five Ways To Advocate for Effective Implementation of Family First   CONNECT WITH USLike us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterVisit our WebsiteForward this to a FriendABOUT US Prevent Child Abuse Georgia is a state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America. We provide statewide direction to prevent child abuse and neglect, promote healthy children, and develop strong families through our prevention network, public awareness, prevention programs, and advocacy.  Learn more about us here!   CONTACT US Julia Neighbors Director Jneighbors@gsu.edu Naeshia McDowell Helpline & Training Coordinator nmcdowell2@gsu.edu   Jyll Walsh Communication & Outreach Coordinator Jwalsh10@gsu.edu GIVING Support PCA Georgia by giving today. Upcoming Events Children's Advocacy Centers of Georgia "One Team" Conference The Classic Center Athens, GA October 15-16, 2018 Register Here. Georgia Conference on Families and Children Marriott Augusta at the Convention Center October 17-19, 2018 Register Here.  Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Annual Meeting & Conference Atlanta Marriott at Century Center October 22-23, 2018 Register Here.  The Summit: Georgia's Child Welfare Conference Hosted by the Office of the Child Advocate Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center December 3-5, 2018  Registration Opening Soon"This project was supported in part by the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Community Based Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CFDA 93.590).  Points of view or opinions stated in this document are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Community Based Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CFDA 93.590)."     follow on Twitter | like on Facebook | forward to a friend ​

School Counselors are often afraid to work with children who self-mutilate. Gaining a better understanding of self-mutilation may assist counselors and school administrators in developing more effective and efficient ways to address the problem. Here is little bit of information that may be helpful in addressing the counselor's role in helping children who self-harm. https://www.counseling.org/resources/library/ACA%20Digests/ACAPCD-18.pdf